Automatic washing system for bucket milking machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention is related to the type of milking machines with milk bucket or trolley bucket milking machine used for milk production mainly in small-medium scaled animal breeding enterprises.The invention is particularly related to an automatic washing method which is used for washing the milking machine with milk bucket after milking automatically and also both increases the quality of the milk and prevents damage to the udder, comprises pre-rinsing, washing, final-rinsing process steps and to a milking machine with a milk bucket having an automatic washing system which comprises detergent dosing unit, washing boiler, milk can, milking cluster, washing jetter, washing line, liquid drafting line in the milk bucket, milk bucket vacuum connection, washing boiler vacuum connection, boiler-milk bucket vacuum orientation and vacuum discharge valve, boiler and milk bucket interim valve, washing line valve, drainage valve, drainage line, water heating resistance, cold water intake valve, hot water intake valve, float bottom level sensor, float upper level sensor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention is related to the type of washing system for milkingmachines with milk bucket used for milk production of small-mediumscaled dairy farms.

The invention is related to an automatic washing method which is usedfor automatically washing the bucket milking machine after milking. Itis related to a milking machine with a milk bucket that has an automaticwashing system which comprises pre-rinsing, washing, final-rinsingprocess steps and of detergent dosing unit, washing boiler, milk can,milking cluster(s), washing jetter, washing line, liquid drafting linein the milk can, milk can vacuum connection, washing boiler vacuumconnection, boiler-milk can vacuum orientation and vacuum dischargevalve, boiler and milk can interim valve, washing line valve, drainagevalve, drainage line, water heating resistance, cold water intake valve,hot water intake valve, float bottom level sensor, float upper levelsensor. This invention both increases the quality of the milk andprevents giving damage to the udder.

PREVIOUS TECHNIC

In the previous technic, the milk milked by the machines are collectedin to a milk bucket. The milker empties the milk bucket by transferringthe milk to another bigger container/bucket at the end of milking andthus the milker prepares the machine for the next animal to be milked.Said milking is very difficult and it is very tiring for the milker.

As it is known, the milking machines must be washed appropriately aftereach milking process without any delay. Delay in washing, not making afull wash or not making any wash causes proliferation of the bacteria ina very fast manner within the milking equipment. These bacteria causeinfection on the udder of the animals at the next milking and alsoinfecting the milk.

Due to the infection of the udders, besides the bacteria contaminatingthe milk via the milking equipment, the somatic cell in the milked milkalso increases, increased somatic cell affects the milk production in anegative manner and the raw milk quality is impaired. As a result of theimpaired milk quality, the milk is processed with extended durationand/or at high temperatures during pastorization, therefore energyconsumption increases. The pH level of milk with high bacteria loadincreases, thus it substantially decreases the yield of milk products,excellence and product quality in the production of dairy products suchas yoghurt, cheese etc.

The producers usually avoid washing the bucket milking machine orperform an insufficient washing because it requires an intensive labor.As a result of this, the udder diseases increase (Mastitis), the qualityof the milk cannot reach to the required level. The raw milk qualitytargets specified in the declaration No 2000/6 of the Ministry ofAgriculture (Number of total bacteria<100.000 number/ml, number ofsomatic cells<400.000 number/ml) can not be reached yet due to the factthat the milking systems of small-medium scaled enterprises are notwashed properly, in contrast the current numbers of total bacteria andsomatic cells are very far away from the targeted values as of the year2018 in Turkiye and in many other developing countries.

As a result, due to insufficiency of the current solutions for solvingthe abovementioned problems within the current technics, it is necessaryto make a development in the relevant technical field for a new washingsystem and equipment.

THE AIM OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves all of the abovementioned problems at thesame time. Said invention is in general related to a method whichprovides excellent automatic washing of all surfaces that contact withthe milk in the bucket milking machine.

The most important aim of the present invention is to increase the milkproduction and raw milk quality by decreasing the somatic cells besidesthe bacteria contamination to the milk by the milking equipment by meansof preventing the udders to be infected due to dirty milking equipment.

Another aim of the present invention is to provide appropriate washingof the milking machine in a standard and sufficient manner by bringingan easy solution to the milker who refrain from washing the milkingmachine because it eliminates the washing labor of the milker.

Another aim of the present invention is to enable washing of the milkingmachines appropriately without any delay after each milking process, dueto its ease of use.

The most important aim of the present invention is to protect the healthof other animals in the herd by means of preventing the infection of theudders.

Another aim of the present invention is to reduce the energy consumptionby providing treatment of the milk within a shorter period of timeand/or at low temperature during process at milk factories.

Another aim of the present invention is both to perform standard milkingprocess by means of reducing the initiative of the milker on the milkingmachine and to improve the working conditions.

In the direction of said aims, the present invention which eliminatesthe current embodiments is an automatic washing method which is used forautomatically washing the milking machine with milk bucket after milkingand it also increases the quality of the milk and prevents damage to theudder, comprises pre-rinsing, hygiene provision, final rinsing processsteps.

In the direction of said aims, the present invention is an automaticwashing system for bucket milking machine which is used forautomatically washing the bucket milking machine after milking,eliminates the disadvantages in the current situation, increases thequality of the milk and prevents damage to the udder, comprises ofpre-rinsing, washing, final-rinsing process steps and includes detergentdosing unit, water heater, milking bucket, milking cluster(s), washingjetter, washing line, liquid drafting line in the milk can, milk canvacuum connection, washing tank vacuum connection, boiler-milk canvacuum orientation and vacuum discharge valve, boiler and milk caninterim valve, washing line valve, drainage valve, drainage line, waterheating resistance, cold water intake valve, hot water intake valve,float bottom level sensor, float upper level sensor.

Said invention will be a preferred product in the sector with itspresent condition and a simple system. Therefore it will provide acommercial success.

The structural and characteristic features of the present invention willbe understood clearly by the following drawings and the detaileddescription made with reference to these drawings. For this reason theevaluation shall be made by taking these figures and the detaileddescription into consideration.

FIGURES CLARIFYING THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a drawing used for illustrating the washing system of themilking system subject to the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   -   1. Detergent dosing unit,    -   2. Washing tank and boiler,    -   3. Milk bucket,    -   4. Milking cluster,    -   5. Washing assembly,    -   6. Washing line,    -   7. Inter milk bucket liquid drafting pipe,    -   8. Inter milk bucket liquid drafting hose,    -   9. Milk hose,    -   10. Milk bucket vacuum connection,    -   11.Vacuum pump,    -   12. Washing tank/boiler vacuum connection,    -   13. Boiler-milk bucket vacuum orientation and vacuum discharge        valve—4 way valve,    -   14. Boiler and milk can interim valve,    -   15. Washing line valve,    -   16. Drainage valve,    -   17. Drainage line,    -   18. Water heating resistance,    -   19. Control circuit/panel,    -   20. Cold water intake valve,    -   20.1 hot water intake valve    -   21. Water feeding line,    -   22. Float,    -   23. Float bottom level sensor,    -   24. Float upper level sensor,    -   25. Electrical plug

The present invention will be understood more clearly with theabovementioned reference numbers and description referring to theattached FIGURE.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is shown in FIG. 1 for illustrative purposes. Inorder to automatically wash the milking machine with milk bucket aftermilking process, first of all milking equipment comes near to thewashing station for automatic washing, if it is a mobile milkingmachine, and the plug (25) of the vacuum pump is plugged into the socketon the control panel (19), inter milk bucket connection hose (8), intermilk bucket liquid drafting pipe (7) and milk bucket vacuum orientationand vacuum discharge valve hose (12) are plugged into the relevantsockets, the milking cluster (4) is fitted onto the washing jetter (5)and finally the start wash button is pressed on the control panel (19)and automatic washing is started. After this phase automatically,pre-rinsing, washing with the solution consisting of hot water anddetergent and final rinsing process steps are applied respectively.

For pre-rinsing; cold water is taken into the boiler from the cold waterintake valve (20); when the water amount taken into the boiler (2)reaches to the required level, it cuts water intake by triggering theupper level sensor (24) of the float (22), operates the vacuum pump(11). At this phase vacuum orientation valve (13) while transferring thevacuum to the milk bucket, interim valve between boiler-milk bucket (14)is in a closed position, washing line valve (15) is open; drainage valve(16) is closed. The vacuum pump (11) takes the rinsing water within theboiler (2) into the milk bucket (3) by passing through the washingjetter (5) and milking cluster (4). During this stage together with thereduction of the water in the boiler, the float of the boiler (22)triggers the lower level sensor (23); the washing line valve (15) isclosed, the boiler and milk bucket interim valve (14) is opened.Together with the opening of this valve, to the vacuumed environmentwithin the milk bucket (3), a sudden atmospheric air inlet is providedby means of the inter milk bucket liquid drafting pipe (7) up to thebottom point of the milk bucket and after the water within the milkbucket (3) is provided to all points in the milk bucket in a pressurizedmanner thus rinsing is provided. After this process the boiler-milkbucket vacuum orientation valve (13) directs the vacuum to the washingboiler vacuum connection (12); it allows the atmospheric air way to themilk bucket vacuum connection (10). Due to the increased vacuum withinthe boiler (2), the dirty rinsing water within the milk bucket (3) isdrafted into the boiler (2) through the inter milk bucket liquiddrafting pipe (7) because the boiler-milk bucket interim valve (14) isopen. When the whole dirty water is drafted into the boiler (2), thevacuum pump (11) is closed; the dirty rinsing water is drained by meanof opening the drainage valve (16). Therefore the pre rinsing process iscompleted.

After the pre-rinsing stage, the system passes to the washing stage withthe solution consisting of the hot water and detergent. At this stagedetergent dosing unit (1) gives a sufficient amount of detergent intothe boiler (2). If there is any external hot water source in theenterprise, hot water is taken into the boiler (2) by means of the hotwater valve (20.1); if there is no hot water source then water is takenfrom the cold water valve (20) and the heating resistance (18) starts towork until the washing solution is heated to the predeterminedtemperature. Water intake into the boiler (2) stops when the water levelin the boiler (2) triggers the upper level sensor (24) of the float(22); the system waits for reaching the solution temperature up to therequired level. The water within the boiler (2) is brought to therequired temperature by means of the resistance (18) and is brought tothe required level, then the float upper level sensor (24) is triggeredand the vacuum pump (11) is operated. At this stage the vacuumorientation valve (13) transfers the vacuum into the milk bucket (3),the boiler-milk bucket interim valve (14) is closed, the washing linevalve (15) is opened, and the drainage valve (16) is closed. The vacuumpump (11) drafts the solution within the boiler (2) into the milk bucket(3) through the washing jetter (5) and milking cluster (4). In thiscase, the solution amount within the boiler (2) is reduced and the lowerlevel sensor (23) of the float (22) is triggered, then the washing linevalve (15) is in a closed position, the boiler-milk bucket interim valve(14) is in an opened position. When the boiler-milk bucket interim valve(14) opens, the vacuum in the milk bucket (3) provides suddenatmospheric air inlet to the environment by means of the inter milkbucket liquid drafting pipe (7) which reaches to the lowermost point ofthe milk bucket, then the washing process of the system is provided byreaching with the solution in the milk bucket (3) to all points withinthe milk bucket (3) in a pressurized manner. After this process theboiler-milk bucket vacuum orientation valve (13) directs the vacuum tothe washing boiler vacuum connection (12); it allows the atmospheric airway to the milk bucket vacuum connection (10). Due to the increasedvacuum within the boiler (2), the solution within the milk bucket (3) isdrafted into the boiler (2) through the inter milk bucket liquiddrafting pipe (7) because the boiler-milk bucket interim valve (14) isopen. When the whole solution is drafted into the boiler (2), the vacuumorientation valve (13) transfers the vacuum into the milk bucket (3),the boiler-milk bucket interim valve (14) is in a closed position, thewashing line valve (15) is in an opened position, and the drainage valve(16) is in a closed position. The vacuum pump (11) drafts the currentsolution within the boiler (2) by means of passing through the washingjetter (5) and milking cluster (4) and then redrafts it into the milkbucket (3) by means of the milk hose (9). This process is repeatedseveral times and all surfaces in contact with the milk in the systemare washed. After all of the surfaces are washed with the solution andhot water, the solution is drafted into the boiler (2) for the lasttime, then the vacuum pump (11) is closed, the drainage valve (16) isopened and the solution is drained.

The system passes to the final rinsing stage after the washing stage. Atthe final rinsing stage first of all cold water is taken into the boiler(2) by means of the water valve (20), when the water level which isfilled into the boiler (2) reaches the required amount, water intake isstopped by means of triggering the upper level magnetic sensor (24) ofthe float (24). The control panel (19) actuates the vacuum pump (11). Atthis stage, the vacuum orientation valve (13) within the systemtransfers the vacuum to the milk bucket, the boiler-milk bucket interimvalve (14) is in a closed position, the washing line valve (15) is in anopened position, and the drainage valve (16) is in a closed position.The vacuum pump (11) drafts the rinsing water within the boiler (2) intothe milk bucket (3) through the washing jetter (5) and the milkingcluster (4)

Together with the reduction of the water within the boiler (2), thelower level sensor (23) of the float (22) is triggered; it closes thewashing line valve (15), opens the boiler-milk bucket interim valve(14). When this valve is opened, to the vacuumed environment in the milkbucket (3), a sudden atmospheric air inlet is provided by means of theinter milk bucket liquid drafting pipe (7) which reaches to thelowermost point of the milk bucket, the final rinsing is provided bymeans of reaching to all points with the water in the milk bucket (3) ina pressurized manner.

After this process, the boiler-milk bucket vacuum orientation valve (13)directs the vacuum to the washing boiler vacuum connection (12); itallows the atmospheric air way to the milk bucket vacuum connection(10). Due to the increased vacuum within the boiler (2), the dirtyrinsing water within the milk bucket (3) is drafted into the boiler (2)through the inter milk bucket liquid drafting pipe (7) because theboiler-milk bucket interim valve (14) is open. When the whole water isdrafted into the boiler (2), the vacuum pump (11) is closed; the finalrinsing water is drained by means of opening the drainage valve (16).

The boiler-milk bucket interim valve (14), the washing line valve (15)and the drainage valve (16) are valves operated by actuators which openand close the passages. The boiler-milk bucket vacuum orientation andvacuum discharge valve (13) are valves, that closes the free air passageof one side when vacuum is oriented to that side, and at the same timecuts the vacuum feeding of the other side, opens the free air passage ofthe side whose vacuum is cut previously.

The protection scope of this application is determined in the claimssection; it certainly cannot be limited to the above descriptions givenfor the purpose of example/illustration, it is clear that a qualifiedperson in the technic can present the novelty presented within theinvention with similar embodiments and/or can apply this embodiment usedin the relevant technical field to other fields of similar aim.Therefore it is clear that such embodiments will lack novelty andparticularly the criteria to exceed the present state of the art.

1. The invention relates to an automatic washing method of an automaticwashing system of the milking machine with milk bucket which is used forwashing the bucket milking machine after milking automatically, havingpre-rinsing, washing and final rinsing stages and also both increasesthe quality of the milk and prevents damage to the udder due tocontamination, characterized in that it comprises the following processstep; transferring the water or solution within the milk bucket (3) toall points in a pressurized manner by means of providing a suddenatmospheric air inlet into the vacuumed environment within the milkbucket (3).
 2. An automatic washing system of a milking machine withmilk bucket or trolley bucket milking machine according to claim 1,characterized in that it comprises the following process steps; gettingwater or solution into the boiler (2); when the level of the water orsolution filled within the boiler (2) reaches to the required amount,triggering the upper level sensor (24) of the float (22), cutting wateror solution intake.
 3. An automatic washing system of a milking machinewith milk bucket or trolley bucket milking machine according to claim 1,characterized in that it comprises the following process step; draftingthe water or solution within the boiler (2) by means of vacuum throughthe washing jetter (5) and milking cluster (4) into the milk bucket (3)with vacuum.
 4. An automatic washing system of a milking machine withmilk bucket or trolley bucket milking machine according to claim 1,characterized in that it comprises the following process step;triggering the lower level sensor (23) of the boiler float (22) with thereduction of the water or solution in the boiler, closing the washingline valve (15), opening the boiler-milk bucket interim valve (14). 5.An automatic washing system of a milking machine with milk can ortrolley bucket milking machine according to claim 1, characterized inthat it comprises the following process step; vacuum is oriented to thewashing boiler vacuum connection (12) by means of the boiler-milk bucketvacuum orientation valve (13) and opening the atmospheric air way to themilk bucket vacuum connection (10).
 6. An automatic washing system of amilking machine with milk can or trolley bucket milking machineaccording to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the followingprocess step; due to the increased vacuum within the boiler (2), thewater or the solution within the milk bucket (3) is redrafted into theboiler (2) by means of liquid drafting pipe (7) because the boiler-milkbucket interim valve (14) is open.
 7. An automatic washing system of amilking machine with a milk can or trolley bucket milking machineaccording to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the followingprocess step; closing the vacuum pump (11) after all water or solutionis drafted into the boiler (2), opening the drainage valve (16),draining water or solution.
 8. An automatic washing system of a milkingmachine with milk can or trolley bucket milking machine according toclaim 1, characterized in that it comprises the following process step;for washing with the solution; giving an appropriate amount of detergentinto the boiler (2) by means of the detergent dosing unit (1).
 9. Anautomatic washing system of a milking machine with a milk can or trolleybucket milking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that; ifthere is no hot water source in the enterprise, after taking water fromthe cold water valve (20), heating the washing solution up to therequired temperature by means of the resistance (18).
 10. An automaticwashing system of a milking machine with milk can or trolley bucketmilking machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprisesthe following process step; waiting for the system washing solutiontemperature to reach to the required level.
 11. An automatic washingsystem of a milking machine with a milk can or trolley bucket milkingmachine according to claim 1, characterized in that; it comprises thefollowing process step; when the temperature of the water within theboiler (2) reaches to the required level by means of the resistance (18)and when the amount of the water reaches to the required level,actuating the vacuum pump (11) by means of triggering the float upperlevel sensor (24).
 12. An automatic washing system of a milking machinewith milk can or trolley bucket milking machine according to claim 1,characterized in that it comprises the following process step; after allwater or solution is drafted into the boiler (2), while the vacuumorientation valve (13) transfers the vacuum into the milk bucket (3),the boiler-milk bucket interim valve (14) is in a closed position, thewashing line valve (15) is in an opened position, the drainage valve(16) is in a closed position.
 13. An automatic washing system of amilking machine with milk can or trolley bucket milking machineaccording to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises the followingprocess step; repeating the rinsing or washing process by drafting theredrafted water or solution into the boiler (2) through the washing head(5), milking cluster (4) again into the milk bucket (3) by means of themilk hose (9).
 14. The present invention is a milking machine with themilk bucket or trolley bucket milking machine having an automaticwashing system which is used for washing the milking machine with milkbucket after milking automatically and also both increases the qualityof the milk and prevents damage to the udder, which comprisespre-rinsing, washing, final-rinsing process steps, characterized inthat; it comprises at least one milk bucket vacuum connection (10), atleast one washing boiler vacuum connection (12), at least oneboiler-milk bucket vacuum orientation and vacuum discharge valve (13),at least one boiler and milk bucket interim valve (14), at least onewashing line valve (15), at least one drainage valve (16), at least onedrainage line (17), at least one water heating resistance (18), at leastone cold water intake valve (20), at least one hot water intake valve(20.1), at least one float bottom level sensor (23), at least one floatupper level sensor (24).
 15. A milking machine with milk bucket ortrolley bucket milking machine having an automatic washing systemaccording to claim 14, characterized in that; it comprises at least oneinter milk bucket liquid drafting pipe (7), at least one inter milkbucket liquid drafting line (8).
 16. A milking machine with milk bucketor trolley bucket milking machine having an automatic washing systemaccording to claim 14, characterized in that; the boiler-milk bucketvacuum orientation and vacuum discharge valve (13), the boiler and milkbucket interim valve (14), the washing line valve (15), the drainagevalve (16), the cold water intake valve (20) and the hot water intakevalves (20.1) are valves with an actuator.
 17. A milking machine withmilk bucket or trolley bucket milking machine which has an automaticwashing system according to claim 14, characterized in that; theboiler-milk bucket vacuum orientation and vacuum discharge valves (13)is a 4-way valve.